The ongoing dispute between actress Nayanthara and actor Dhanush over the use of footage from their 2015 film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in Nayanthara’s Netflix documentary Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale has taken a legal turn. Dhanush, who had previously refused to grant permission for the use of the film’s footage, has now filed a civil suit against Nayanthara, her partner Vignesh Shivan, and their production company.
According to reports, the Madras High Court has directed Nayanthara to respond to the civil suit in the next hearing. Additionally, Dhanush’s legal team has requested the court’s permission to file a separate application against Netflix’s Mumbai affiliates for their role in distributing the documentary, which has garnered significant attention.
The legal battle traces back to when Dhanush declined to provide a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for the inclusion of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan clips in the documentary. Nayanthara, in response, publicly criticized Dhanush on social media, expressing her disappointment over his refusal.
In a heartfelt post, the actress addressed Dhanush, writing, “Dear Mr. Dhanush K Raja, S/o Kasthoori Raja, B/o Selvaraghavan, this is an open letter to you in order to set several wrong things right.” Nayanthara pointed out the disparity between her own struggle in the film industry and Dhanush’s established family connections, highlighting her rise as a self-made woman. She also expressed her frustration over Dhanush’s apparent animosity, stating that his actions not only harmed her but also affected the team that worked on the documentary.
She continued, “The release of my Netflix documentary has been much awaited by not just me but so many of my fans and well-wishers. It took a whole team of collaborators and film friends to pull this project together through all the difficulties. The vengeance you’ve been festering against the film, my partner, and me doesn’t just affect us, but also the people who gave their time and effort to this project.”
Nayanthara’s documentary, which covers her personal life, love, and marriage, includes contributions from various industry figures but notably omits any reference to ‘Naanum Rowdy Dhaan‘, the film that marked a significant turning point in her career. The dispute between the two actors continues to make headlines, and it remains to be seen how the legal proceedings will unfold in the coming weeks.